Andrew Nackman’s Fourth Man Out is a buddy movie that is shaken and stirred with a gay twist. Whereas in most Hollywood buddy movies there is a subtextual element of homoeroticism, Fourth Man Out brings gayness to the forefront of the narrative, making one of the buddies gay. That gay character would be Adam (Evan Todd), an attractive yet mysteriously single garage mechanic in rural New York. Adam has decided that he will unveil the secret to his singlehood and come out to his best friends on his 24th birthday.

Those best friends — Chris (Parker Young), Ortu (Jon Gabrus) and Nick (Chord Overstreet) — are typical bros. They play poker, watch hockey and talk about chicks. They like to joke about being gay and farting. Oh, and they like to get drunk together, occasionally partaking in Mount Gay Rum. In other words, they are just average heterosexual dudes in the bro-mantic cinematic universe.

Adam has always fit in with his friends perfectly — that is until he becomes the odd man out thanks to the revelation of his sexuality. Thus begins the awkward post-coming out dance of Adam still trying to be one of the bros while his friends try to act natural around him.

Sure, Fourth Man Out is yet another example of the mainstreaming of LGBT filmmaking, but that is not such a bad thing. Fourth Man Out goes where mainstream buddy movies only have the balls to joke about going. Nackman uses standard buddy movie tropes to normalize the content, but skillfully avoids dumbing it down. Instead, the film thoughtfully comments on the impact that coming out has on both the LGBT individual as well as their friends and family.

Rating: 7.5/10

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Fourth Man Out screens as the opening night film of the 28th annual Austin Gay and Lesbian International Film Festival (aGLIFF). For more information, check out the aGLIFF Program.